The High Descent — Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Höhe to Heiligenblut

This is Stage 1 of the world-famous Alpe-Adria-Trail. Starting at the dramatic high-alpine amphitheater of the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe (2,369m), the trail drops roughly 1,000 meters of descent into the legendary mountaineering village of Heiligenblut. You traverse the moraines of the Pasterze glacier, cross the dramatic turquoise Sandersee and Margaritzen reservoirs, and follow the Briccius trail past ancient chapels. The scenery transitions from raw, glacial desolation to the lush, flower-filled meadows of the Möll valley.

The Narrows in Zion National Park is one of the most unique and famous 'hikes' in the world because there is no trail—the Virgin River itself is the trail. Taking place inside a spectacular slot canyon where sweeping, striated Navajo sandstone walls rise perfectly vertically up to 1,000 feet (300m) above a river sometimes only 20 feet wide, hikers wade, walk, and occasionally swim upstream against the current. The classic 'Bottom-Up' route starts at the Temple of Sinawava, offering a choose-your-own-adventure experience where you can turn back whenever you wish. The visual drama of the deep, twisting canyon, illuminated by reflected golden light bouncing off the water and canyon walls, creates an otherworldly environment.